Breathe clean air this Spring......;-).

Hamish from

I have just changed the filter in our heatpump, as I do every winter. About 80% of all new cars come with a similar filter called a cabin air filter. The cabin air filter serves a similar purpose to the filter for your heat pump. It helps keep dust, allergens, and pollutants from coming into the car through the vent system. Cabin Air Filters first appeared in the 1980s but became more prominent around 1995. Many people don’t know their vehicles have these filters.

Cars over time can develop a musty smell inside the cabin. Changing the cabin air filter every 20,000 to 30,000km, like most manufacturers recommend, will help eliminate odors and promote fresh air. The picture shows a dirty cabin air filter we recently pulled from a car. They can be very dirty, especially when they have been in a vehicle for 100,000km.

Cabin air filters generally take only 15 to 20 minutes to replace. They are often located behind or under the dash. Costs vary by manufacturer, but are relatively inexpensive. Since most folks don’t know they have these filters, when they see the dirty one come out of their vehicle, they are excited to replace it. As we head into spring, often using the heat or air conditioning in our cars, make sure you are breathing clean air by having your cabin air filter checked at your next service appointment.